Conestoga College catching heat over president salary amid layoffs
Posted Apr 8, 2026 02:53:34 PM.
Last Updated Apr 9, 2026 12:07:52 PM.
Last year was rough for Conestoga College.
The federal government’s cap on international student visas took a major bite out of the post-secondary institutions’ revenue, which led to multiple rounds of layoffs, with nearly 600 faculty and support staff handed walking papers since December 2025.
It began with president John Tibbits facing a defamation suit filed by the president of Sault College over comments Tibbits made in 2024. Now, the Board of Governors is facing criticism from the Minister of Colleges and Universities, Nolan Quinn, over the compensation paid to Tibbits in 2025.
While speaking to Global News recently, Quinn called Tibbits’ 2025 salary “egregious.”
The revelation came after the release of the Sunshine List last week.
In 2025, Tibbits was paid $601,684, which is less than in 2024, because the president’s salary is tied to college revenue.
In a statement to 570 NewsRadio, a spokesperson for Minister Quinn’s office said the minister’s comments stand.
“As our government continues to make record investments to support our postsecondary sector, we have been clear with our institutions — they must use funding to support their core mandate of preparing students for good-paying, in-demand jobs and careers,” reads the statement.
It concluded by saying, “We expect institutions that have chosen to prioritize exorbitant executive salaries to align with the many sector partners who continue to find efficiencies and are correctly using this funding to focus on student success.”
The province announced in February a $6.4 billion investment to support the postsecondary sector.
Tibbits had planned to retire at the end of 2026, but in January announced he would be retiring effective immediately. At the time, the Board of Governors said a replacement would be hired by March. That hasn’t happened yet.
In a statement to 570 NewsRadio, Chair of the Conestoga College Board of Governors, Martha George said:
“The Board of Governors initiated a comprehensive and inclusive executive search for Conestoga’s next President & CEO earlier this year, supported by Boyden, a global leadership search firm.
The Board recognizes the importance of selecting the right leader and is committed to ensuring a thoughtful and well-executed recruitment and appointment, regardless of the timeline. This is the first leadership search the Board has undertaken in 38 years and we are taking care to align with current governance frameworks and expectations.
While we are currently finalizing both the recruitment and consultation plan, the hope is that the search will be done in three phases, supported by a broad and thoughtful engagement process with key partners across the college community and beyond. Over the next couple of months, we will launch the consultation phase to gather input from internal and external stakeholders, including students, employees, local union leaders, and industry and community partners, to help shape the leadership profile and priorities for the next President & CEO.
The Board’s primary focus remains forward-looking. The priority is continuity, steady leadership and ensuring the college’s long-term sustainability and impact in the years ahead.”
